3/28 Ship Island Excursions, Harrison County – CANCELLED
See Ship Island Excursions website for details – participants are responsible for purchasing their tickets.
Ship Island is a premier stopover and beach-nesting bird site in the state. On this trip, we will visit the historical fort grounds in search of songbird migrants, before proceeding to the beach to look for hard-to-find shorebirds such as Snowy Plover, American Oystercatcher, and Red Knot.
Leaders:
Rhonda Plitt – rplitt09@yahoo.com, 601-916-2457
Amanda Douglas – amanda.douglas@audubon.org, (904)557-8422
Place and time: Gulfport Harbor. Departs Gulfport at 9am. Departs Ship Island 2:30pm or 5pm Saturday.
Conditions: Dress appropriately. It is likely to be a cool start but will warm up and may get hot! Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, snacks etc. Expect relatively difficult walking conditions across sand, potentially for upwards of 2-3 miles. Also prepare for blowing sand on the beach.
Book your tickets at: Ship Island Round Trip Ferry Services | Ship Island Excursions (msshipisland.com)
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4/4 Seaman Road Sewage Lagoons, Jackson County
Leader: Sharon Milligan – 2sharon123@gmail.com,
(228) 861-1622
Co-Leader: Collin Stempien – collin.stempien@audubon.org
Closed to the public — special entry arranged for our chapter!
Join us this spring for a fun and one-of-a-kind birding adventure at the Seaman’s Sewage Lagoon in Vancleave! While the name may raise eyebrows, this site is one of the coast’s quiet spring migration gems — and because it’s normally off-limits, every visit feels like we’re unlocking a secret birding spot just for our group.
We’ll scan the ponds for early shorebirds, lingering waterfowl, and teal moving through. Tree, Barn, and Rough-winged Swallows often swoop overhead, and the surrounding brushy edges can hold warblers, buntings, kingbirds, and other spring migrants fueling up for their journey north. Egrets, herons, and Black-necked Stilts frequently add to the show, along with the occasional unexpected rarity that keeps lagoon birding exciting.
Expect easy walking, relaxed birding, and plenty of enthusiastic conversation with fellow nature lovers. Whether you’re building your spring migration list or just enjoy exploring unusual hotspots, this trip promises interesting species, great company, and an adventure you’ll be talking about long after.
Bring binoculars, scopes if you have them, and your springtime curiosity. The setting may be humble — but the birds certainly aren’t!
Place and time: Meet at the facility between 7:15 and 7:30 am. (Map)
Coordinates: 30.500325, -88.798204
Conditions: Slow driving with stops; some groups will walk a lot.
Important: This is a working facility. You must stay with leaders while on site. Call Sharon (above) if you have questions about policy.
4/11 Pascagoula Wildlife Management Area, Jackson County
Leader: Lisa Price – lisavollmer@bellsouth.net; cell: 228-238-4648
Ms. Price will be leading a MCAS-sponsored field trip to look for spring migrants and resident birds and wildlife in and around the Pascagoula River in the Wade-Vancleave area. The field trip will be on Saturday and will run from 7:30-11:30, depending on how birdy the area is that morning. A beautiful time of year for birding!
*Note: A Pascagoula Wildlife Management Area permit (available at Walmart Sporting Goods desk for $18.00 for a calendar year) is required, however I have room in my Silverado truck for 3 or 4 people, for those who arrive first. No restrooms are accessible at this site, please plan accordingly. The site may be muddy so wear appropriate footwear and bring bug spray. Don’t forget your binoculars! Contact Lisa directly (via cell phone or email) if you have any questions about finding the Ranger’s station.
Place and time: We will meet at the Ranger’s station on Wade-Vancleave Road (turn right off Highway 57 @ 12 miles north of the interstate or turn left off Highway 63 at the Waffle House/Wade intersection at the traffic light, then travel a few miles to find the Station by the boat ramp at the river on the south side of the road) at 7:30 a.m. to register before starting out and car-pooling. Map
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5/1 – 5/3 Spring MOS Meeting
See Mississippi Ornithological Society’s website for details at:
https://www.missbird.org/events.
*Pre-registration is required.
5/9 Pascagoula River Audubon Center – Kayak Trip, Jackson County
Leader: Malik Wells, Senior Center Assistant
Place and time: Pascagoula River Audubon Center, 5107 Arthur St., Moss Point, MS 39563. Saturday May 9th at 8:00am.
Join us for a peaceful and scenic kayak field trip launching from the Pascagoula River Audubon Center, where participants will explore the beautiful Escatawpa River while paddling through calm waters and lush coastal habitats. This area is a haven for bird enthusiasts, offering frequent sightings of ospreys, bald eagles, great blue herons, snowy egrets, and a variety of migratory songbirds. Hosted by the Mississippi Coast Audubon Society, this guided outing is open to members free of charge and provides a relaxing, educational experience for both experienced birders and those simply looking to enjoy nature from the water. Kayaks will be provided, but bring lots of water, sunscreen, and snacks!
*REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED* Please RSVP to: mscoastaudubon@gmail.com
Conditions: Slow paddling with an experienced leader. Primary purpose of the trip is birding. Bring binoculars, plenty of water, sunscreen, snacks etc.
5/30 Pascagoula Wildlife Management Area, Jackson County – Birds & Turtles!
Leader: Lisa Price – lisavollmer@bellsouth.net; cell: 228-238-4648)
Ms. Price will be leading a MCAS-sponsored field trip to look for turtles in and around the Pascagoula River in the Wade-Vancleave area. The field trip will be on Saturday and will run from 7:30-11:30, depending on how active the area is that morning. We hope to find an endemic map turtle specific to the Pascagoula River besides spotting a couple of other species! Late migrants may be passing through the area as well.
*Note: A Pascagoula Wildlife management Area permit (available at Walmart Sporting Goods desk for $18.00 for a calendar year) is required however I have room in my Silverado truck for 3 or 4 people, for those who arrive first. No restrooms are accessible at this site, please plan accordingly. The site may be muddy so wear appropriate footwear and bring bug spray. Don’t forget your binoculars! Contact Lisa directly (via cell phone or email) if you have any questions about finding the Ranger’s station.
Place and time: We will meet at the Ranger’s station on Wade-Vancleave Road (turn right off Highway 57 @ 12 miles north of the interstate or turn left off Highway 63 at the Waffle House/Wade intersection at the traffic light, then travel a few miles to find the Station by the boat ramp at the river on the south side of the road) by 7:30 a.m. to register before starting out and car-pooling. Map
